Oktoberfest Is Canceled. Here’s How Breweries Are Still Helping You Celebrate.

1. Zümfest

Photo: Blue Point Brewing Co.

Blue Point Brewing Co. — based in Long Island, NY — is hosting an online Oktoberfest called Zümfest (as in Zoom, the video conferencing tool that took over so many lives the past few months) starting on September 19. Interactive live Zoom sessions are separated into five “tents” focused on arts, food, culture, business, and entertainment. There are cooking classes where you can learn how to make dishes like wiener schnitzel and spaetzle, beer and cheese pairings, and a Polka performance. Chopped champion Mini Melanie will teach a class on baking chocolate cake truffles using Blue Point’s Mother Pumpkin Ale. For those really trying to get into the spirit, there are Oktoberfest At Home food kits made by Blue Point’s brewpub and classic German delis in New York City.

Blue Point also created a German-style festbier called Zümfest beer in collaboration with Munich’s Spaten Brewery. Street artist Steven Harrington designed the can label, which features fall leaves, kegs of beer, crabs, and other signifiers of Oktoberfest on Long Island.

You can sign up for Zümfest on the official website starting September 17.

When: September 19

2. Droptoberfest

In June, Ben Penman, Jen Penman, KC Philippi, and Jenny Philippi set out to create a virtual beer festival that didn’t suck. They named it The Last Drop Beer Festival, which provided a number of live streaming virtual events from breweries in the US. Now, the team is back at it with a virtual Oktoberfest called Droptoberfest.

“We decided to produce Droptoberfest because the real Oktoberfest has been canceled and this is our version and way to help save Oktoberfest,” Jenny Philippi said via email.

This time around, there will be Oktoberfest trivia, magic, music, and beer. Nine breweries will take part: Humble Sea, Bottle Logic, Cervezacito, Stereo, Moksa, East Brothers, Smog City, Chapman Crafted, and Enegren. Breweries will participate in a log sawing contest and a stein holding contest. Other entertainment will be provided by Nate Javier of Maker’s Magic, trivia hosted by Aaron Schwartz, and the bands Half Past Two, Greasy Spoons, and Da Stube Buben.

You can find more information on the official event website. Bonus: Guests will get a limited edition Droptoberfest stein.

When: September 26

3. Oktoberfest Mini Driveway Tour

Photo: Breckenridge Brewery/Facebook

Since you can’t go to Oktoberfest, why not let Oktoberfest come to you? Breckenridge Brewery is sending a Jeep with a traveling Oktoberfest trailer carrying food, steins, and live music to homes in Denver and Colorado Springs for a driveway tour. While the brewery can’t provide the beer because of alcohol laws, pretty much everything else is accounted for (at least for people who have a space about 30 feet long to accommodate the Jeep and trailer carrying The Rhinelander’s band).

Check the Oktoberfest Mini Driveway Tour event page to see if you’re in the qualified area. Those who are can sign up by September 12 to be selected as a party zone, and seven people will be chosen by random drawing for each day.

When: September 19 and 20

4. Oktoberfest Virtual 5K

Running might not be the first thing that comes to mind when considering how to spend Oktoberfest 2020, but this is no normal Oktoberfest year. The Oktoberfest Virtual 5K is asking people to run to raise money for the hard-hit restaurant industry. You choose the course and report your own time, and proceeds will be donated to the Baltimore Restaurant Relief Fund, Restaurant Employee Relief Fund, and Restaurants Care. After the run, it’s on you to eat a brat and drink a festbier.

Register for $45 on the event website by September 17. Participants will get an Oktoberfest 5K shirt as well as the satisfaction of knowing they supported a good cause.

When: September 19 through October 4

5. Newberry Oktoberfest

Newberry, SC, typically has an Oktoberfest that shuts the streets for all the right reasons: local vendors, competitions in lederhosen, live music, and plenty of beer and food. A smaller virtual event this year will try and bring as much of the family-friendly fun as it safely can. The virtual Newberry Oktoberfest will feature a German traditional dress contest (done with photos rather than in person), a dance video contest, and a virtual vendor fair. You can make crafts with the Newberry Arts Center, as well as learn classic Oktoberfest recipes from Newberry chefs.

More information and how to view contests and events are on the Newberry Oktoberfest website.

When: September 20 through October 3